Can opener



June 18, 1929. 1-1. ,1. EDLUND CAN OPENER Filed Jan. 10, 1928 INVENTOR hi 1% gnu/w Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES HENRY J. EDLUND, OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed January 10, 1928. Serial No. 245,733.

This invention relates to can openers adapted to be manually manipulated.

Anobject of the invent-ion is the provis on of a device for removing the top of cans 1n which a toothed rotor having a conical portion is adapted to revolve the can during the cutting operation by a knife which penetrates the metal top, the conical portlon facilitating insertion of the bead past a wedging portion of the knife and in which the wedging portion cooperates wlth the. toothed rotor for holding the bead and likewise the can on the opener. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of a can opener having a springpressed pivotally mounted knife adapted to penetrate and cut the top from the can when the can is revolved by a manually operated toothed wheel forced in engagement with the head of said can by the knife, the knife being provided with a wedging portion closely associated with the toothed wheel for not only aiding in retaining the can in snug engagement with the wheel for holding the can by means of the bead on the opener.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a can opener having a knife in the form of a spring pressed arm which is pivoted in such' a manner that the grip on the can will automatically increase in proportion to the power required to cut the top of the can, a spring acting as a means for moving the knife towards the rotor at the beginning of the cut.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following description, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification ;.nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side View of the can opener constructed according to the principles of my invention,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the can opener,

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the can opener,

Figure 4 isan end View,

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the knife, and

bracket 34. The cutter is movable Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1O designates a handle in which is forced. a shank 11 formed integrally with a plate or base member 12 providing a stop for the can. At the outer end of said plate is formed a cap remover 13 for bottles. The inner end of the handle has a metal cap 15 provided with a slot through which is inserted the shank 11.

A knife housing 16 is flanged at 17 and riveted at 18 to the plate 12. This housing is provided with passages forming bearings for a shaft 19 which also has a bearing in a U-shaped bracket 21 depending from and secured to the plate 12.

An operating handle 22 preferably made of wood is secured to the outer end of the shaft 19. A rivet 23 secures the handle in place. The U-shaped bracket 21 provides a housing for a toothed wheel 25 which is secured to that end of the shaft 19 which is disposed in the bracket 21. A conically.

shaped portion 26 is formed integrally with the wheel 25, and is also located within the confines of the bracket for a purpose which will be presently described.

A knife or cutter 30 has a pointed end 31 for penetrating the top of the can While a knife edge 32 is adapted to cut the metal top when the toothed wheel 25 is rotated. The cutter is disposed at substantially right angles to a supporting plate 33 forming one member of a U-shaped bracket 34. The other member 35 of' the bracket is spaced in parallel relation with the plate 33. Both members are provided with perforations as shown at 86 in a member 35 to receive a pintle 37 whereby the bracket and knife are pivotally mounted so that the cutter will be moved relative to the periphery .of the toothed Wheel 25 when the cutter is forced into the top of the can. A leaf spring 40 has an. end 42 in contact with the outer end of the casing 16 While the other end engages the bridging portion 43 of the U-shaped through a slot 45 in the plate 12. The knife has a wedging portion 46 which projects inwardly towards the toothed member 25 and past which the bead 47 -of the can 49 must be forced before it can enter the space 48 located between the knife and the toothed member. i

The point31 of the knife is placed against the top of the can and pressureis applied to the casing 16 when the cutter will penetrate the top of the can. If necessary the handle Will be tilted slightly to the horizontal to compensate for thethickness of the bead at the upper edge of the can as the bead is forced past the wedge 46. The handle 22 is operated to cause rotation of the toothed wheel whereby the teeth will bite into the bead of the can and rotate said can which is supported by the can opener since the bead is located in the space 48. The top is thus neatly severed from the can while that portion of the top which remains between the cut out portion and the bead is forced in flat contact with the inner Wall of the -can. The spring acting on the knife causes the knife and toothed rotor to grip the can and the clamping action will be automatic. The spring acts further as a means of forcing the knife towards the rotor at the beginning of the cut.

What is claimed is 1. A can opener comprising a handle, a housing projecting from one end of the handle, a spring pressed arm pivotally mounted within said housing and having a knife projecting through the.- bottom of the housing, a toothed wheel below the housing for causing rotation of the can, and means for rotating the Wheel, said knife having means for wedging the can against the toothed wheel.

2. A can opener comprising ahandle, a housing projecting from one end of the handle, a U-shapedbracket pivotally mounted in said [housing and provided with a knife projecting through the bottom of the housing, a toothedwheel below the housing, and

having the periphery spaced from the knife, means for causing rotation of the wheel, a spring for maintaining the knife in a predetermined position while providing for-movement of the knife, said knife having a portion acting as a wedge to force the can snugly against the wheel.

3. A can opener comprising a handle, a housing projecting from one end of the handle, a U-shaped bracket pivotally mounted in said housing and provided with a, knife projecting through the bottom of the housing, a toothed wheel located below the housing, and having the periphery spaced from the knife, means for causing rotation of the' wheel, a spring for maintaining the knife in a predetermined position While providing for movement of the knife, said knife having a portion acting as a wedge to force the can snugly against the wheel.

4. A can opener comprising a handle, a housing projecting from one end ofthe handle, a U-shaped bracket pivotally mounted in said housing and provided with a knife projecting through the bottom of the housing, a toothed Wheel located below the housin" and having the periphery spaced from the knife, means for causing rotation of the Wheel, a spring for maintaining the knife in a predeterminedposition, said wheel having a conical portion to facilitate the insertion of the can in operatiye relation with the opener, said knife having a wedging portion adjacent the wheel for forcing the Wall of the can against said wheel.

Signed at Burlington, in the county of Chittenden, and State of Vermont, this 6th day of January, A. D. 1928.

- H. J. EDLUND. 

